Odometer



April 20, 1937. H. 1.. SPAUNBURG ODOMETER Filed Dec. 10, 1954 INVENTOR:l/mv I ATTOR E'Y.

Patented Apr. 20, 1937 PATENT OFFICE ODOMETER Harvey L. Spaunburg,Bristol, Conn., assignor to Veeder-Root Incorporated, a corporation ofConnecticut Application'December 10, 1934, Serial No. 756,788

12 Claims.

My invention relates to odometers.

It has among its objects to provide an improved odometer of the tripsection type adapted to use on automobiles or the like. A further objectof my invention is to provide such an improved construction having animproved drive and, more particularly, an improved drive whereby, whileretaining the advantages of a quick reset, it is made possible toeliminate objectionable automatic resetting'during backing of thevehicle. A still further object of my invention is to provide animproved trip section of the quick reset type adapted to accomplish theabove I advantageous results and utilizing a shaft which is stationaryduring forward movement of the vehicle, while requiring no longitudinalmove-,

ment at any time during the operation of the device.

provide an improved clutch mechanism for operatively connecting thisshaft during the quick In the accompanying drawing I have shown forpurposes of illustration one embodiment which my invention may assume inpractice.

In the drawing,-

Figure 1 is a view partially in side elevation and partially inlongitudinal section showing my improved drive applied to a .standardtype of counter, certain parts being broken away to facilitateillustration and the parts being illus- 35 trated in resetting position;

Fig. 2 is a detail view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1,the parts being shown in normal driving position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectionahriew on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, but looking in theopposite direction to show one of the resetting pawls, and

In this illustrative construction'I have shown my improved drive appliedto a trip section of a well known internal transfer type described andclaimed in a co-pending application of Ed- 50 ward A. Slye, now issuedas Patent No. 2,004,881,

and having-a reset knob K, this trip section being herein improved aswill hereinafter appear. As usual in thistype of counter, it will benoted thatthe units or number wheels I, 2, 3 55 and 4 are connected byusual internal transfer mechanisms, one of which is generally indicatedat 5, while the several wheels are arranged coaxially of a main shaft 6and driven'through improved connections hereinafter described from arotating part I, herein a spur gear suitably Another object of myinvention is to Fig. '7 is a sectional view on line II of Fig. 1.

connected to the vehicle wheels. Moreover, as usual in this type ofcounter, it will be understood that each number wheel I, 2 and 3includes a clutch comprising spaced internal projections 8 on the numberwheel providing notches therebetween and connectible by springpawls 9 toa projecting portion In on a cooperating clutch element II. Also, eachwheel I, 2 and 3 carries within the same a reset pawl I2 acted upon by.

a spring I3 and adapted to seat in a reset groove or slot I4 in theshaft 6 to effect resetting when the shaft is rotated in one directionby the reset knob K, while the number wheel rotates freely around theshaft at other times. Further, it will be understood that the numberwheel 4 is rotated by a slidable driving connection including drivingprojections I5 on a cam sleeve I6 and receivable in a cooperatingdriving recess II in a hub I8 on the number wheel 4, while a coiledspring I9 is disposed .outside this hub and acts between the hub and theend of the cam sleeve I6 in such manner as normally to dispose the partsin the position shown in Fig. 2, i. c. with a spur gear 20, fixed to androtatable with the sleeve IS, in mesh with the driving pinion I. In thisposition, it will also be noted that a bevel pinion 2|, adjacent thespur gear 20 and rotatable therewith, is out of mesh with a bevel pinion22 longitudinally reciprocable with the knob K and rotatable in oppositedirections with the knob as the latter is rotated in a suitable support,23, while a cam 24, likewise reciprocable with the knob K, is movableinto and out of engagement with a cooperating cam on the cam sleeve I6to effect reciprocation of the latter to the left to the position shownin Fig. 1.

In my improved construction, it will particularly be noted that thefirstnumber wheel 4 is freely rotatable on the shaft 6, as distinguished frombeing fixed or pinned to that shaft. Herein, it is suitably positionedlongitudinally of the shaft while being free for rotation on the shaft,by a collar 25 secured to the shaft, the collar being, as herein shown,frictionally secured to the shaft by being forced onto a longitudinallyknurled portion 21 on the shaft between the ends of the projections I5and an adjacent portion of the hub of the wheel. Thus it will be evidentthat when the cam sleeve I6 is rotated, i. e. dur-. ing rotation of thespur gear 20 from the driving pinion I, or upon rotation of the bevelgear 2I by the bevel gear 22 rotatable with the knob K, since both thegears 20 and 2| are fixed to the sleeve I 6 and the latter isoperatively connected to drive the number wheel 4 through the slidabledriving connection I5, II, the wheel 4 will be rotated relative to theshaft 6. In other words, this wheel 4 will be rotated and drive theother wheels 3, 2, I through their connected transfer mechanisms 5,during vehicle movement, when the gear 28 is in mesh with the pinion I,or during rotation of the reset knob K when the latter is pushed in tobring its bevel gear 22 into engagement with the gear 2| as shown inFig. 1 and disconnect pinion I.

In my improved construction I also provide an improved clutch betweenthe cam sleeve l6 and the shaft 6 which is adapted to functionautomatically to connect the shaft 8 to the counter units through themember IE to effect quick resetting, upon suitable operation of the knobK, while normally maintaining the shaft 6 disconnected and stationaryduring driving of the vehicle wheels and gear I in either directionexcept for an incidental rotation of shaft 6 which may occur duringbacking of the vehicle, as hereinafter explained. Herein, this clutchincludes a pawl 28 suitably pivoted as at 29 in the cam portion 25 ofthe sleeve i6 and having a spring 30 normally pressing the pawl toward aposition to engage a longitudinal slot or groove 3| in the shaft 6. Inthis construction, an end disc or washer 32 is also provided on the faceof the cam portion 25 adjacent the spring 19, and acts as an abutmentfor the latter and an enclosing member for the pawl 28 and spring 30.Herein also, it will be noted that when the parts are in the positionshown in Fig. 2, i. e. with the spring I! extended, the pawl 28 extendsdown into an annular groove 33 provided in the shaft 6 and having oneinclined or cam wall 34 on the side of the groove adjacent the firstnumber wheel 4. Moreover, it will be noted that the slot 3| in the shaftextends through this cam wall 34 into the groove 33.

As a result of my improved construction it will be noted that, with theparts in the counting position shown in Fig. 2, the various numberwheels I, 2, 3 and 4 will be rotated in a usual manner to count.However, the shaft 8 will remain stationary and the sleeve l8 will berotated by the gears I and 28 relative to the shaft 8 with the pawl 28moving freely in groove 33, and the sleeve in turn rotating the wheel 4through the slidable driving connection l5, I1, while the rotation ofthis wheel 4 will be imparted to the wheels 3, 2 and I in a usual mannerthrough the associated transfer mechanisms 5. It will also be evidentthat by pushing in the knob K to the position shown in Fig. 1 and thenrotating the knob K to the right, the shaft 8 will be rotated in suchmanner as to effect a quick reset. Thus, pushing in the knob K willcause the cam 24 to engage the cam surface 25 on the cam sleeve l8 andforce the latter to the left to compress the spring l9, and, at the sametime, cause the pawl 28 to move up the inclined cam face 34 and onto theouter periphery of the shaft to compress the pawl spring 30. When theknob K is pushed in, it will also be evident that its bevel gear 22 willmesh with the bevel gear 2|, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus, rotation of theknob K to the right will cause the cam sleeve l6 to be rotated in acounter-clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 4. As a result of thisrotation, the pawl 28 will also be projected downward into the slot 3|by the spring 30 as soon as the sleeve has rotated suiiiciently to bringthe pawl 28 over the slot 3|, and the" shaft 8 will thereafter berotated with the sleeve I8 to effect a quick reset of the number wheels3, 2, l, the pawls l2 of these number wheels being picked up in thereset groove l4 in the shaft 8 in a usual manner. Also, it is possiblewith the knob K pushed in, to turn the number wheels I 2, 3, 4, to bringthem quickly to a readi g approximatber wheels to subtract to 105.5. Ofcourse, as soon as the knob K is pulled out, completing the resettingoperation, the spring l9 will automatically return the parts to theposition shown in Fig. 2.

As a result of my improved construction, it will be noted that, with theparts in their operative or counting position shown in Fig. 2, i. e.,with the resetting knob K pulled out, there will be no automaticresetting effected if the vehicle is backed. Instead, the pawl 28 willthen merely rotate freely in the annular groove 33 in the shaft 8 andthe number wheels I, 2, 3, 4 will merely slowly subtract through thetransfer mechanism as the vehicle moves backward, irre spective of thedistance. Here it should be noted that while the shaft 6 normallyremains stationary, except when used for resettin Purposes, uponsufficiently prolonged backing of the vehicle to cause rotation of anyof the higher order wheels I, 2 and 3, the reset pawls l2 of the lattermay engage the reset slot l4 of shaft 8 and rotate the shaft in aclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 6. This incidental rotation ofthe shaft by a higher order wheel during backing has no eifect on theoperation of the odometer, a quick reset being impossible since shaft 8is rotated in the opposite direction from resetting, and the pawl 28 isin the annular groove 33. Thus, the confusion resulting from a return ofthe trip section to zero as a result of only a short backing o rationof, for example, a few hundred yards, isxntirely obviated in thisimproved construction. These and other advantages of my improvedconstruction will, however, be apparent to those skilled in the art.

While I have in this application specifically described one embodimentof my invention, it will be understood that this form of the same isshown for illustrative purposes and that the invention may be modifiedand embodied in other forms without departing from its spirit or thescope of the appended claims.

What'I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A counter having operatively connected counter units including numberwheels adapted to add when rotated in the direction of ascendingnumbers, and resetting mechanism for said units including a resettingshaft stationary during such additive counting, a cam reciprocable onsaid shaft and rotatable with one of said units, and a clutch betweensaid cam and shaft and automatically connecting said shaft and cam forrotation upon a resetting operation of said resetting mechanism.

2. A counter having operatively connected counter units including numberwheels adapted to add when rotated in the direction of ascendingnumbers, and resetting mechanism for said units including a resettingshaft stationary during such additive.counting, a cam reciprocable onsaid shaft and rotatable with one of said units, and a clutch betweensaid cam and shaft and automatically connecting said shaft and cam forrotation upon a resetting operation of said resetting mechanismincluding a clutch member on said cam and cooperating clutch means onsaid shaft engaged by said clutch member for actuating said shaft in a.resetting direction.

3'. A counter having operatively connected counter units includingnumber wheels adapted to add when rotated in the direction of ascendingnumbers, and resetting mechanism for said units including a resettingshaft stationary during such additive counting, a cam reciprocable onsaid shaft and rotatable with one of said units, and a clutch betweensaid cam and shaft and automatically connecting said shaft and cam forrotation upon a resetting operation of said resetting mechanismincluding an actuating clutch member on said cam and cooperatinginter-engaging means on said shaft.

4. A counter. having operatively connected counter units includingnumber wheels adapted to add when rotated in the direction of ascendingnumbers, and resetting mechanism for said units including a resettingshaft stationary during such additive counting, a cam reciprocable onsaid shaft and rotatable with one of said units, and a clutch carried bysaid cam and automatically connecting said shaft and cam for rotationupon a resetting operation of said resetting mechanism comprising aslotted cam section on said shaft and a cooperating member engageablewith the cam and slot thereof in different positions of saidreciprocable cam and carried by the latter. 5. In a counter havingoperatively connected counter units adapted to add when driven in onedirection, driving mechanism including a rotatable and reciprocable camrotatable during driving and having a sliding driving connection withthe first of said units, and resetting mechanism for said counter unitsincluding a resetting shaft extending through said cam and stationaryduring driving of the counter units in an adding direction, means forreciprocating and thereupon rotating said cam, and clutch mechanismbetween said cam and shaft automatically connecting the same uponrotation of saidlast men'- tioned means in a resetting direction.

6. In a counter having operatively connected counter units adapted toadd when driven in one direction, driving mechanism including arotatable and reciprocable cam rotatable during driving and havinga'sliding driving connection with the first of said units, and resettingmechanism for the latter including a resetting-shaft extending throughsaid cam and stationary during driving of the counter units in an addingdirection. means for reciprocating and thereupon rotating said cam, saidshaft having an annular transverse groove having an adjacent sloping camface and a longitudinal slot, and a spring pressed member rotatable withsaid first mentioned cam normally disposed in said groove during drivingand adapted to ride up said cam face upon reciprocation of said'cam andengage in said slot upon rotation of said cam in a resetting direction.

7. An odometer having a reset shaft stationary during driving of saidodometer in a direction to advance the count thereon, operativelyconnected counter units having resetting means coopcrating with saidshaft during resetting and also having driving means for rotating saidunits in opposite directions including a rotary cam, and reset operatingmechanism having means for automatically disconnecting said drivingmeans and automatically connecting said shaft to said cam when thelatter is rotated in a resetting directionto effect resetting of saidunits.

8. An odometer having resetting mechanism including a reset operatingmember and a reset shaft stationary during driving of said odometer in adirection to advance the count thereon, 0peratively connected counterunits on said shaft, driving means rotatable relative to said shaft, andmechanism including clutch elements carried by said shaft and drivingmeans for operatively connecting an element of said driving means tosaid shaft upon rotation of said driving means by said reset operatingmember in a direction to effect resetting and automaticallydisconnecting the same upon completion of the resetting operation ofsaid reset operating member.

9. An odometer having operatively connected counter units, resettingmechanism for said units including a rotary reset shaft and means foreffecting a quick reset of said units upon rotating said shaft in onedirection, and means including a transversely grooved and longitudinallyslotted cam section on said shaft and a spring pressed member disposedin the transverse groove thereof during driving and during resettingreciprocable on said cam section and thereupon rotatable in a resettingdirection into the longitudinal slot therein to clutch said shaft to thecounter unit of lowest order.

10. A counter having operatively connected counter units includingnumber wheels adapted to count when rotated in the direction ofascending numbers, driving mechanism therefor including a rotatable andreciprocable driving member having a constant driving connection to thefirst unit during driving and resetting, and resetting mechanism for theother units including a reset shaft coaxial with said unitsandstationary within said member during counting, means for reciprocatingsaid member to disconnect thelatter from the drive and subsequentlyrotating said member during resetting, and clutch mechanism between saidreciprocable member and shaft inoperative during driving andautomatically connectible by said last mentioned means during resetting.

1 1. An odometer having operatively connected counter units, resettingmechanism for said units including a rotary reset shaft and means foreffecting a quick reset of said units upon rotating said shaft in'onedirection, and driving mechanism for said counter units including adriving member on said shaft and clutch means between said member andshaft enabling said driving member to rotate freely relative to saidshaft during driving of said units in one direction while inhibitingautomatic resetting of said counter units during driving the latter bysaid member in a reverse direction.

12. An odometer having operatively connected counter units, resettingmechanism for said units including a rotary reset shaft and means foreffecting a quick reset of said units upon rotating said shaft in onedirection, driving mechanism for said counter units including a drivingmembet on said shaft and clutch means betweensaid member and shaftenabling said driving member to rotate freely relative to said shaftduring driving of said units in one direction while inhibiting automaticresetting of said counter units dur-

